PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Clown Loach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannibal Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannibal Smith will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Loach
vs
Smith

166 cm
20
152 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
153 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clown Loach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hannibal Smith!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Loach avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Loach on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Loach moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith scores with a jab. Loach acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Loach tries to clinch up
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick but Loach moves out of range.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith throws a series of punches but Loach avoids them all with ease.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith avoiding damage as Loach throws knees to the body.
Loach has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Loach displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
Smith looking to stall.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Loach blocks it.
Smith avoiding damage as Loach throws knees to the body.

Loach turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Loach manages to end up in side control.
Loach creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Loach tries to move into full mount but can't pass Smith's legs.
Loach wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loach tries to advance to mount but can't.
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Loach grinds an elbow into Smith's temple.

Loach tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Loach working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loach is chipping away with strikes.
Loach in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith tries to buck Loach off but Loach is having none of it.
Loach landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Loach in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smith managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Loach.
Loach wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Loach landing strikes.
Loach throwing strikes but Smith manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Loach controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throws an elbow but Loach slips to the side and avoids it well.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Loach, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loach is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Loach lands a shot to the body.
Smith tries to roll but Loach sticks to his back.

Loach has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Smith has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Loach scores with punches and elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Loach slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Loach throwing damaging strikes from the back! Smith could be in trouble here!
Smith just trying to survive but Loach is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clown Loach dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Loach looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.

Loach has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Loach avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Loach has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Loach trying to land knees to the body.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Loach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Loach as the two fighters clinch.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Smith is fighting off a takedown attempt but Loach is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Smith to the mat. Smith regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Loach trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Loach throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Loach landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Loach from controlling successfully.
Loach throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Loach's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Loach keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Loach on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Loach tries to get out of the position.
Loach pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith wants to control from the top but Loach keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Loach avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Loach wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Loach is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Loach persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loach lands a couple of elbows.
Loach lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Loach is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Loach's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Loach is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Loach working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Loach slips an elbow through the middle.
Loach slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Loach scores with punches from side control.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Loach lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Loach is looking to pass Smith's guard but actually Smith recovers to full guard.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Loach loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Loach can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Loach chips away with some ground and pound.
Loach trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Loach lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clown Loach dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Loach tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Loach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Loach takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Loach blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Loach moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Loach closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loach throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Loach.
Loach tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Loach.
A knee to the head by Smith.
Loach can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Loach wants a takedown.
Loach unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clown Loach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Loach blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Loach lands an uppercut.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Loach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Loach throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Loach goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Loach.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Loach lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Loach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short body shot lands from Loach as the two fighters clinch.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loach misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Loach lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith letting Loach take a breather here.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

Loach gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Loach lands with a punch from half guard.
Loach lands strikes from half guard.
Loach working the head and body with strikes.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Loach in his half guard.
Loach is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Loach has control of the leg.
Loach working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Clown Loach is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to improve his position but Loach is controlling well.
Loach slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Loach.
Loach with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but Loach is controlling well.
Smith has hold of Loach's hands but Loach slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Loach is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hannibal Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Loach not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Loach connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
Loach working Smith over with strikes.
Smith is looking to control Loach's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Loach keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clown Loach showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Loach, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clown Loach!